S Poddar
Well, what was already promised to be a very special night became absolutely unforgettable last evening for the small crowd of 250 patrons in Amagansett, New York, at the Stephen Talkhouse. Music legend Paul McCartney did what few would have expected: showing up and performing in this little club.
The Beatles icon — who just happens to live locally in The Hamptons — figured, why not stop by the club and jump on stage with a band of talented musicians? Joining McCartney was producer Andrew Watt, who’d previously worked with McCartney on the Rolling Stones’ new album Hackney Diamonds, along with Chad Smith, the dynamic drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Also taking the stage was Hall & Oates guitarist G.E. It features Smith, musical director and bassist Ivan “Funkboy” Bodley, and singer-songwriter Charlotte Lawrence.
The Stephen Talkhouse, ripe with history for hosting big names in music in such an intimate setting, was the perfect backdrop for the impromptu performance of McCartney. The legendary musician first took to the microphone to perform Neil Young’s classic “Rockin’ In The Free World,” sharing the stage and mic with Lawrence. The crowd was buzzing, but McCartney wasn’t even done. He then steered the band into a spontaneous performance of the Beatles’ hit “I Saw Her Standing There.” It wasn’t particularly polished, though that added to the charm and authenticity of the performance. Naturally, concertgoers rushed to immortalize this moment with their phones, and videos of the performance started making the rounds online quite quickly.
One of the audience members, Ryan Sherman, was overwhelmed to the point at which he could barely handle it. “Paul dropped the mic when he finished, like a rap battle, and walked off. Mind blown. One of the coolest things we’ve all ever seen,” he shared. Sherman managed to put that sense of incredulity wedged with pure elation for all of them sitting in the auditorium into words.
Yes, McCartney’s voice isn’t what it used to be, but that hardly mattered to those who were there. Even a probable flaw in the music couldn’t compete with the mere thrill of a living legend going on in close and personal flesh and blood. For the crowd at the Talkhouse, this was a story they’d hold and retell for their entire lives. And as with any event of this magnitude, even those who weren’t there will likely claim they were, just to be part of the magic.
The Stephen Talkhouse is named after a late 19th-century Montaukett Native American and has been a mainstay of the Amagansett music scene since its doors first opened in 1987. It has hosted an incredible array of musical talent over the years, with past performers including Buddy Guy, Southside Johnny, Buster Poindexter, 10,000 Maniacs, Loudon Wainwright III, Judy Collins, Taj Mahal, Steve Earle, Leon Russell, Roy Buchanan, and Jeff Buckley. Following the surprise visit of McCartney, the venue has added yet another legendary name to its storied history.
That night was etched in history for a few of those favored souls who saw McCartney do what thousands of people had only dreamed of: a surprise performance by one of the greatest musicians of all time. It was an intimate kind of night, surprising in performance, and spontaneous in its happening, very much like those that get talked about for years to come.
